Wedding Ceremony for a Blended Family
When the bride and/or groom have children, it is appropriate for the children to be included in the wedding ceremony. For blended families, making vows to each other’s children has become a heartwarming way to do just that. With children present, the wedding ceremony also becomes the proclamation of a new family or a "family wedding."
Generally speaking, children will accept a parent's remarriage more readily when they feel included in the wedding plans, the wedding ceremony and are given a tangible symbol of being embraced by a new family, like a Family Medallion bracelet or pendant.
This ceremony can easily be incorporated into the wedding ceremony via the Family Medallion Ceremony or the Unity Candle Ceremony.
Generally speaking, children will accept a parent's remarriage more readily when they feel included in the wedding plans, the wedding ceremony and are given a tangible symbol of being embraced by a new family, like a Family Medallion bracelet or pendant.
This ceremony can easily be incorporated into the wedding ceremony via the Family Medallion Ceremony or the Unity Candle Ceremony.
Blended Family Ceremony Wording Examples
Blended Family Ceremony - Example 1Officiant Remarks: It is the desire of _________ and _________ to extend their commitments to each other by making some promises to the children of this family. As you all join hands to form a new circle of love, we will seal this union with spoken promises like the rings this bride and groom have exchanged.
Officiant to the Bride/Groom: Do you _________ and _________, promise to be faithful, loving, tender and nurturing parents, always there for _________ (child/children's name), not only providing their/her/his physical needs, but their/her/his emotional needs as well, always a good listener, a loving counselor and a friend? Bride & Groom: We do. Officiant to the Mother/Father (Speaking to the Child/Children): (Repeat after me). _________, I want you to know that I love your mother/father very much. I will not and cannot replace a mother/father loved by you, however I can promise you that I will love you and care for you as if you were my own. I promise to be a committed listener. I promise you my trust, to be fair, my support, what knowledge I can share, to be your friend, and to provide a shoulder to cry on. I promise to be available to you as I am to your mother/father. Bride/Groom to Child/Children: _________, I give you this _________ (gift) as a sign of my loving promises made this day. Officiant to Child/Children: Do you accept the promises made by _________? Child/Children: I do or We do. Officiant: May a kind God now bless you all as family, and bless this marriage and this home, wherever you may be. And so it is. |
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Blended Family Ceremony - Example 2
Officiant: There are children who will share in this marriage. The gathering of this new family will have a deep influence upon them. It will both complicate and enrich their lives. They will also have much to contribute to this new family. We realize that in order for the home to be a happy one, it is essential that there be love and understanding between the children and the adults being married.
Officiant to Bride and Groom: Is your love for each other broad enough to include _________ (name the child/children) and deep enough to honor their/her/his presence in this marriage and to pledge yourselves to love and care for them/her/him?
Bride and Groom: We will.
Officiant to Child/Children: You are a vital part of this new marriage. _________ and _________ give you their unconditional love and honor your presence in their lives. _________, you will have a share in this union, for your life/lives will be touched by the covenant being made here today. Your participation is requested to help develop the bonds of a new family.
As _________ and _________ have exchanged their pledges in holy union, we ask from you also a pledge, that you will join together to weave a fabric of mutual help and comfort, of challenge and support, and that you will help create a home and a way of life in which all of you may grow into the fullness of the best people you can be. Will you now pledge to do your best to help make a happy and successful home for all of you by your love and cooperation?"
Child/Children: I will or We will.
Officiant: And so it is.
Officiant to Bride and Groom: Is your love for each other broad enough to include _________ (name the child/children) and deep enough to honor their/her/his presence in this marriage and to pledge yourselves to love and care for them/her/him?
Bride and Groom: We will.
Officiant to Child/Children: You are a vital part of this new marriage. _________ and _________ give you their unconditional love and honor your presence in their lives. _________, you will have a share in this union, for your life/lives will be touched by the covenant being made here today. Your participation is requested to help develop the bonds of a new family.
As _________ and _________ have exchanged their pledges in holy union, we ask from you also a pledge, that you will join together to weave a fabric of mutual help and comfort, of challenge and support, and that you will help create a home and a way of life in which all of you may grow into the fullness of the best people you can be. Will you now pledge to do your best to help make a happy and successful home for all of you by your love and cooperation?"
Child/Children: I will or We will.
Officiant: And so it is.
Blended Family Ceremony - Example 3
Officiant: These sacred vows are not just between Maddy and Joe because you will not only be a new couple, you will be a new family. So ________ and _________, will you please join us now for the special family rites of this wedding.
________ and _________ turn to face girls as they stand in front of them. Maddy speaks as Joe puts heart necklaces on the girls]
Kids: "Thank you for sharing Daddy with me, loving me and allowing me to love you with all of my heart. I was not there when you took your first steps, but I promise that now I will love and support you in every step that you take in your life. These necklaces are a symbol of our love and devotion to the two of you.
I love you, ________ and I am devoted to making your life full of happiness and accomplishments, nurturing your creativity, encouraging your independence, and making sure you always know what a gift you are to this world.
I love you, ________ and I am devoted to making your life full of happiness and accomplishments, ensuring that you thrive to your fullest potential, and that while you reach for the sky, you remain grounded by the love of our family and our home."
Officiant: Children, please come stand by me as we marry ________ and _________. We want you to have a front row seat.
________ and _________, please join hands and face each other so that you can look into each other's eyes and see the beauty of what is about to happen.
________, please hand this ring to your ________ and _________.
________ , please place this ring on ________ finger and hold it there as you repeat after me:
I give you my promise to be by your side forevermore.
I promise to love, to honor, and to listen as you tell me of your thoughts, your hopes, your fears, and your dreams.
I promise to love you deeply and truly because it is your heart that moves me, your head that challenges me,
your humor that delights me,
and your hands I wish to hold until the end of my days.
_________, please give this ring to _________ to give to your _________.
Maddy, please place this ring on Joe's finger and hold it there as you repeat after me:
I give you my promise to be by your side forevermore.
I promise to love, to honor, and to listen as you tell me of your thoughts, your hopes, your fears, and your dreams.
I promise to love you deeply and truly because it is your heart that moves me, your head that challenges me,
your humor that delights me,
and your hands I wish to hold until the end of my days.
May all your days be filled with joy and happiness. It is my honor and great pleasure and by the power vested in me that I now pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss your beautiful bride and she may kiss you back.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I now present to you for the very first time – the _________ family.
________ and _________ turn to face girls as they stand in front of them. Maddy speaks as Joe puts heart necklaces on the girls]
Kids: "Thank you for sharing Daddy with me, loving me and allowing me to love you with all of my heart. I was not there when you took your first steps, but I promise that now I will love and support you in every step that you take in your life. These necklaces are a symbol of our love and devotion to the two of you.
I love you, ________ and I am devoted to making your life full of happiness and accomplishments, nurturing your creativity, encouraging your independence, and making sure you always know what a gift you are to this world.
I love you, ________ and I am devoted to making your life full of happiness and accomplishments, ensuring that you thrive to your fullest potential, and that while you reach for the sky, you remain grounded by the love of our family and our home."
Officiant: Children, please come stand by me as we marry ________ and _________. We want you to have a front row seat.
________ and _________, please join hands and face each other so that you can look into each other's eyes and see the beauty of what is about to happen.
________, please hand this ring to your ________ and _________.
________ , please place this ring on ________ finger and hold it there as you repeat after me:
I give you my promise to be by your side forevermore.
I promise to love, to honor, and to listen as you tell me of your thoughts, your hopes, your fears, and your dreams.
I promise to love you deeply and truly because it is your heart that moves me, your head that challenges me,
your humor that delights me,
and your hands I wish to hold until the end of my days.
_________, please give this ring to _________ to give to your _________.
Maddy, please place this ring on Joe's finger and hold it there as you repeat after me:
I give you my promise to be by your side forevermore.
I promise to love, to honor, and to listen as you tell me of your thoughts, your hopes, your fears, and your dreams.
I promise to love you deeply and truly because it is your heart that moves me, your head that challenges me,
your humor that delights me,
and your hands I wish to hold until the end of my days.
May all your days be filled with joy and happiness. It is my honor and great pleasure and by the power vested in me that I now pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss your beautiful bride and she may kiss you back.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I now present to you for the very first time – the _________ family.
Blended Family Ceremony - Example 4
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As the two of us are joined on this day, we become part of each other:
your feelings become my feelings; your sorrows become my sorrows; your joys become my joys; your cares become my cares, and your children become my children. With your help and guidance I promise to be a true and faithful spouse / wife / husband and parent, always there to comfort you, rejoice with you, and endure all the complexities of life that we will face together as a family. My love for you and your/our child/ren is pure and unshakable, and I hereby commit myself to all of you from this day forward. |
Blended Family Ceremony - Example 5
1. Invite Child (or Children) to stand with their parent
Officiant: Let it be known that [Groom and Bride] do not enter this commitment alone. [Groom] brings with him an amazing and vibrant 13 year old son… [Child's First Name], will you please come forward and stand between your Father and [Partner]. Over the years, the three of you have gotten to know each other; sharing meals, hanging out, and just spending time together. You have successfully melded into a modern-day family.
Today [Child's Name], your support to this marriage is clear. [Bride] joins this family circle as your father's wife, as a friend that you can count on and a woman who loves both of you very much.
2. Introduction of the child/children through the words of parent and partner.
Officiant: I would like to tell all of you some things that [Groom] and [Partner] think all of you should know about this amazing young person…[Child's Full Birth Name]
Your Father tells me…
(Three qualities Father recognizes and/or admires about his child)
And [Partner] shared with me that…
(Three qualities [Partner] recognizes and/or admires about the child)
3. Commemorative Gift (bestowed on the child/children by the couple. Examples: necklace with birth stone, bracelet, family heirloom.)
Officiant: As a way to commemorate this momentous occasion, your Father and [Partner] have a gift for you, and they would like to present it to you now, is that okay?
[Parents give gift to child; if jewelry, put it on them. Whatever it is, tell the guests] 4. Vows: to Child from Both Adults (Parent / Partner will need to write these.)
Officiant: [Groom], [Bride] and [Child] would you please join hands to form your family circle?
[Groom/Father] repeat after me…
[Child], I want you to know how lucky I feel every day just knowing you. You are the energy that flows through my veins. You inspire me and I can't imagine the man that I would have become without you in my life. Thank you for accepting Bride into our world. Nobody knows more than you how she has been there for both of us. You are an amazing young man and an honorable human being that I am proud to call my son. I love you.
[Bride] repeat after me…
[Child], I have known you since the day you were born. . . You and your father are the people who know me best in this world, the people I eat with every day, the first I see in the morning and the last at night. The two of you are my strength and my world. We are the fearsome threesome, and I consider you to be one of the most important people in my life. I love you.
4.1 Vows: Three Promises Adults and Child
Officiant: [Groom], [Bride] and [Child] would you please join hands to form your family circle? I am going to ask all of you 3 questions. I would like all of you to answer each of them with, "I Promise!"
Do you promise to love, respect and protect each other from this day forward?
All 3: "I Promise!"
Do you promise to always try to be the best person you can be?
All 3: "I Promise!"
Do you promise to accept the responsibility of being a family, and encourage, and support each other in your new life together?
All 3: "I Promise!"
4.2 Vows: Three Promises from the Children
(When both partners have children these are promises the kids make to the Family Unit. The couple usually creates the questions so that they relate to their children. Kids are standing with their parents).
Officiant: [Kid A], [Kid B] and [Kid C], I am going to ask you 3 questions. I would like all of you to answer each of them with, "I Promise!"
Do you promise to be tolerant, respectful and accepting of each other's differences?
KIDS: "I Promise!"
Do you promise to always work out disagreements so that your friendships can grow stronger?
KIDS: "I Promise!"
Do you promise to keep your rooms clean and the dirty dishes out of the basement?"
KIDS: "I Promise!"
5. Family Blessing (I always close the ritual with blessings for the family and a group hug before asking the child/children to return to their seats).
Officiant: I ask that your home be a place of happiness for all who enter it, and a place where the old and the young are renewed in each others' company, a place for growing, a place for music and celebration, a place for laughter and goofing off.
And when life seems to be too much or you just had a rough day, may your home always be a place of refuge where every one of you can find the comfort of always knowing that you will be accepted and loved unconditionally.
Officiant: Let it be known that [Groom and Bride] do not enter this commitment alone. [Groom] brings with him an amazing and vibrant 13 year old son… [Child's First Name], will you please come forward and stand between your Father and [Partner]. Over the years, the three of you have gotten to know each other; sharing meals, hanging out, and just spending time together. You have successfully melded into a modern-day family.
Today [Child's Name], your support to this marriage is clear. [Bride] joins this family circle as your father's wife, as a friend that you can count on and a woman who loves both of you very much.
2. Introduction of the child/children through the words of parent and partner.
Officiant: I would like to tell all of you some things that [Groom] and [Partner] think all of you should know about this amazing young person…[Child's Full Birth Name]
Your Father tells me…
(Three qualities Father recognizes and/or admires about his child)
And [Partner] shared with me that…
(Three qualities [Partner] recognizes and/or admires about the child)
3. Commemorative Gift (bestowed on the child/children by the couple. Examples: necklace with birth stone, bracelet, family heirloom.)
Officiant: As a way to commemorate this momentous occasion, your Father and [Partner] have a gift for you, and they would like to present it to you now, is that okay?
[Parents give gift to child; if jewelry, put it on them. Whatever it is, tell the guests] 4. Vows: to Child from Both Adults (Parent / Partner will need to write these.)
Officiant: [Groom], [Bride] and [Child] would you please join hands to form your family circle?
[Groom/Father] repeat after me…
[Child], I want you to know how lucky I feel every day just knowing you. You are the energy that flows through my veins. You inspire me and I can't imagine the man that I would have become without you in my life. Thank you for accepting Bride into our world. Nobody knows more than you how she has been there for both of us. You are an amazing young man and an honorable human being that I am proud to call my son. I love you.
[Bride] repeat after me…
[Child], I have known you since the day you were born. . . You and your father are the people who know me best in this world, the people I eat with every day, the first I see in the morning and the last at night. The two of you are my strength and my world. We are the fearsome threesome, and I consider you to be one of the most important people in my life. I love you.
4.1 Vows: Three Promises Adults and Child
Officiant: [Groom], [Bride] and [Child] would you please join hands to form your family circle? I am going to ask all of you 3 questions. I would like all of you to answer each of them with, "I Promise!"
Do you promise to love, respect and protect each other from this day forward?
All 3: "I Promise!"
Do you promise to always try to be the best person you can be?
All 3: "I Promise!"
Do you promise to accept the responsibility of being a family, and encourage, and support each other in your new life together?
All 3: "I Promise!"
4.2 Vows: Three Promises from the Children
(When both partners have children these are promises the kids make to the Family Unit. The couple usually creates the questions so that they relate to their children. Kids are standing with their parents).
Officiant: [Kid A], [Kid B] and [Kid C], I am going to ask you 3 questions. I would like all of you to answer each of them with, "I Promise!"
Do you promise to be tolerant, respectful and accepting of each other's differences?
KIDS: "I Promise!"
Do you promise to always work out disagreements so that your friendships can grow stronger?
KIDS: "I Promise!"
Do you promise to keep your rooms clean and the dirty dishes out of the basement?"
KIDS: "I Promise!"
5. Family Blessing (I always close the ritual with blessings for the family and a group hug before asking the child/children to return to their seats).
Officiant: I ask that your home be a place of happiness for all who enter it, and a place where the old and the young are renewed in each others' company, a place for growing, a place for music and celebration, a place for laughter and goofing off.
And when life seems to be too much or you just had a rough day, may your home always be a place of refuge where every one of you can find the comfort of always knowing that you will be accepted and loved unconditionally.